Day 22: Stop Being a Weight-Loss Martyr | 30-Day Weight Loss-athon
Here we are at Day 22 of the 30-Day Weight Loss-athon. Wow – time is flying!
All tasks in the 30-Day Weight Loss-athon are adapted from my 52 Weight Loss Missions program.
Read the steps first, then take 10 minutes to think about and complete them. Ready?
What You Need:
- A willingness to look at yourself and your beliefs
- Pen
- Post-its.
Step 1
The first step today is to realize that saying yes to your weight loss means saying no to other things and to other people’s priorities, at least some of the time.
And if the people in your life are especially demanding, then it may mean saying no rather a lot of the time.
Sometimes you’ll help out, of course. But if you come last on your priority list much of the time, then you need to realize the effect this may be having on your weight-loss success.
Before long, you forget what your priorities even are. They get lost in the maelstrom of everyone else’s needs.
If losing weight is a priority for you – and we discovered on Day 1 that it is – then it may be time to start saying no.
But before you can do that, you may need to change the way you look at things.
Step 2
For most people, saying no is difficult. We see it as selfish. We’re uncomfortable putting our own priorities ahead of other people’s needs. So when our priorities get challenged, we give in.
So now we need to remind ourselves that in fact, sticking to your weight-loss guns is not selfish – it has all kinds of benefits that are surprisingly good for everyone:
- As you lose weight you’ll gain energy so you’ll have more to give others
- If you have kids, they’ll benefit from an excellent role model for persistence, goal setting, health and wellbeing – not to mention assertiveness!
- By standing up for yourself, you’ll gain the respect of colleagues, friends and family members
- When the people around you have to make other arrangements, it can help them develop their own independence and stand on their own two feet
- You’ll stop feeling resentful that your priorities are neglected, and this helps you to have better relationships
- You’ll be more fun to be around
- You’ll be happier, which boosts productivity at work and home
- You’ll like yourself more as you build up your assertiveness muscles
- If you’re using the needs of others as an excuse for not living your own life, then you’ll start living your own life more – and let them off the hook.
That’s a lot of great stuff for you and for the people around you!
Step 3
So now, choose the benefit or benefits that most speak to you and – you guessed it! – write it/them on a post-it note and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day.
Once you accept that it’s okay to protect your priorities and say no to certain demands, how do you do it – with grace? That’s what we’ll take action on tomorrow.
So… which benefit does it for you?
Check in!
And you’re done!
Be sure to leave your comment below to check in and stay accountable. If you’re reading this by email or in a reader then please click here to leave your comment.
See you tomorrow!
So this weekend, I’m at a party discussing weight loss and when I leave the room one of my close friends comments to my teenage daughter that I’m able to lose o quickly because when I’m not dieting, I eat such junk and she has such a hard time losing weight because she always eats healthy so dieting isn’t enough of a change for her. When I hear this, I think Babe you did NOT put on 25lbs in the last year by ALWAYS eating healthy but I said NO to any retorts or arguments and invited her with me the next day for my daily walk…needless to say I had to slow my usual pace…yeah THAT’s satisfaction! This mission…I’ve already got covered and I’ve been bringing salads wherever I go…just in case there aren’t choices, it’s not rude – > it’s being prepared and people understand.
I need time for me.
I will be ‘funner’ to be around!
Slow and steady wins the race! 🙂
To have more energy to be able to do more!
NO! Lol, not easy to do even jokingly. But, it is necessary.
I fully embrace this no guilt.
I’m blessed. My family and friends are very supportive.
More energy….more fun….for my well being!
Looking forward to having more energy.
I want to have more energy and be happier! I am posting my notes by dorrs so I see them before I leave a room.
I really want to lose weight to gain energy and have more to give to myself and others 🙂
Mine is that I will be more fun to be around. I become more active with my kids as I get healthier.
More energy will make me more fun and happier! (Would this be considered multi-tasking?)
Exercising and eating right definitely make me more healthy and productive! It is important to make them a priority in my life.
I have to start living my own life and not using my kids (teens who could fend for themselves if they don’t like a meal I fix) or my husband as an excuse for not making healthy choices.
Six years ago I learned that it is ok to say no to others. Now I just have to say not to the snacks and sweets that I love so much.
While I have not been checking in on a regular basis, I have been reading the posts daily and making changes slowly. Thanks for the encouragement!
this will definitely be challenging for me; however, this is something that I have come to realize is an issue I have with myself. this will be good for me 🙂
Eating breakfast, exercising, making better eating choices, better nights sleep, and feeling great! Saying “no” will just add to my feeling good about me.